First honor scores rolled Tuesday at Junior Gold
July 19, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS - Jared Armstrong of Louisville, Kentucky, and Brandon Knowles of Westminster, Colorado, rolled the first 800 series and 300 game, respectively, during Tuesday's qualifying at the 2016 Junior Gold Championships presented by Storm, Roto Grip and Master.
Armstrong rolled games of 279, 259 and 269 for an 807 series at Western Bowl on Tuesday afternoon. He polished off the four-game block with a 258 game for a 1,065 pinfall total, the highest block so far in this year's event.
Armstrong, who utilizes the unique two-handed delivery, spent many days prior to Junior Gold practicing on specific conditions and the extra work paid off.
"It definitely helps going plus-4 yesterday and then shooting plus-200 today," said Armstrong, who is competing in his fifth Junior Gold Championships. "It's not something I expected. I just went out there and bowled. The shot was there, so all I had to do was hit my mark and make spares. Back home, I would practice on short patterns and that's what I feel like I bowled on today. Basically, I just made the short pattern my best friend and with all that practice and spare shooting, it's paid off so far."
Armstrong's first Junior Gold was also held in Indianapolis, and today's performance showed the growth in his game. He's much more confident and determined than the 14-year-old that stepped on the lanes in 2012.
He's long had aspirations of becoming a professional bowler, too, and is taking the necessary steps to reach his ultimate goal. One of those steps was competing at the high school level where Armstrong recently wrapped up a successful career at Fern Creek High School in Louisville. This fall, he will take his talents to the collegiate level and attend Morehead State.
"When I first started, I said I wanted to be a professional bowler when I grew up," Armstrong said. "I've changed a lot and have become a better bowler. The more I keep winning and bowling good, it just builds my confidence and determination. After today, I'm feeling a lot better about my bowling.
High school bowling is really where all of this began for me. The amount of competition in high school bowling is great. The doors opened up. It gets exciting and it gets intense. I will definitely miss high school bowling."
Knowles achieved perfection during the third game of his 7:30 a.m., 20-and-under squad, also at Western Bowl. He began with games of 255 and 204, before adding 232 for a four-game total of 991. Knowles flirted with perfection in Game 1 as well, after opening with seven consecutive strikes.
Knowles, who also attacks the lanes using a two-handed delivery, is no stranger to making noise at Junior Gold. In 2012, the first year in tournament history the event moved to age-based divisions, he was one of six 15-year-old boys to opt into the 20-and-under division despite being eligible to compete in the 15-and-under division.
"I certainly didn't expect when I woke up this morning to shoot 300 or even shoot 270," Knowles said. "I definitely prefer the short patterns. I like to play straight up the ditch when I can. Last year, after Day 1, I was in second place throwing plastic straight up the ditch on a short pattern. I was able to throw my urethane today and was in between the first arrow and the gutter for all four games. I got a little nervous in Game 3, but it held up and carried all 12. I'm very fortunate to carry 12 in a row."
Knowles would love more than anything to win Junior Gold before his youth career is complete, but knows he can't rush the process and must maintain the same mental focus throughout the rest of the tournament.
"I've been dreaming of winning Junior Gold since I can remember," said Knowles, who recently completed his first collegiate bowling season at Midland. "It means everything and would be a dream come true, but my mindset is to go 1-and-0. One shot at a time, one spare at a time. Don't overreact. Don't get too low and don't get too high. Just 1-and-0 every shot. That's the mindset and hopefully I can continue to ride the wave."
JUST MISSED: On Monday, Dustin Zehner of South Bend, Indiana, tossed a 290 game during his 20-and-under squad, while Eric Wurmnest of Heyworth, Illinois, fired a 289 game during his 15-and-under squad on Tuesday. Both squads were at Expo Bowl.
Armstrong rolled games of 279, 259 and 269 for an 807 series at Western Bowl on Tuesday afternoon. He polished off the four-game block with a 258 game for a 1,065 pinfall total, the highest block so far in this year's event.
Armstrong, who utilizes the unique two-handed delivery, spent many days prior to Junior Gold practicing on specific conditions and the extra work paid off.
"It definitely helps going plus-4 yesterday and then shooting plus-200 today," said Armstrong, who is competing in his fifth Junior Gold Championships. "It's not something I expected. I just went out there and bowled. The shot was there, so all I had to do was hit my mark and make spares. Back home, I would practice on short patterns and that's what I feel like I bowled on today. Basically, I just made the short pattern my best friend and with all that practice and spare shooting, it's paid off so far."Armstrong's first Junior Gold was also held in Indianapolis, and today's performance showed the growth in his game. He's much more confident and determined than the 14-year-old that stepped on the lanes in 2012.
He's long had aspirations of becoming a professional bowler, too, and is taking the necessary steps to reach his ultimate goal. One of those steps was competing at the high school level where Armstrong recently wrapped up a successful career at Fern Creek High School in Louisville. This fall, he will take his talents to the collegiate level and attend Morehead State.
"When I first started, I said I wanted to be a professional bowler when I grew up," Armstrong said. "I've changed a lot and have become a better bowler. The more I keep winning and bowling good, it just builds my confidence and determination. After today, I'm feeling a lot better about my bowling.
High school bowling is really where all of this began for me. The amount of competition in high school bowling is great. The doors opened up. It gets exciting and it gets intense. I will definitely miss high school bowling."
Knowles achieved perfection during the third game of his 7:30 a.m., 20-and-under squad, also at Western Bowl. He began with games of 255 and 204, before adding 232 for a four-game total of 991. Knowles flirted with perfection in Game 1 as well, after opening with seven consecutive strikes.
Knowles, who also attacks the lanes using a two-handed delivery, is no stranger to making noise at Junior Gold. In 2012, the first year in tournament history the event moved to age-based divisions, he was one of six 15-year-old boys to opt into the 20-and-under division despite being eligible to compete in the 15-and-under division. "I certainly didn't expect when I woke up this morning to shoot 300 or even shoot 270," Knowles said. "I definitely prefer the short patterns. I like to play straight up the ditch when I can. Last year, after Day 1, I was in second place throwing plastic straight up the ditch on a short pattern. I was able to throw my urethane today and was in between the first arrow and the gutter for all four games. I got a little nervous in Game 3, but it held up and carried all 12. I'm very fortunate to carry 12 in a row."
Knowles would love more than anything to win Junior Gold before his youth career is complete, but knows he can't rush the process and must maintain the same mental focus throughout the rest of the tournament.
"I've been dreaming of winning Junior Gold since I can remember," said Knowles, who recently completed his first collegiate bowling season at Midland. "It means everything and would be a dream come true, but my mindset is to go 1-and-0. One shot at a time, one spare at a time. Don't overreact. Don't get too low and don't get too high. Just 1-and-0 every shot. That's the mindset and hopefully I can continue to ride the wave."
JUST MISSED: On Monday, Dustin Zehner of South Bend, Indiana, tossed a 290 game during his 20-and-under squad, while Eric Wurmnest of Heyworth, Illinois, fired a 289 game during his 15-and-under squad on Tuesday. Both squads were at Expo Bowl.